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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Wal-Mart Crime report December 2016

Last month Walmart broke their record with fifteen shootings in one month; this month they broke it for the second consecutive month with at least nineteen shootings and higher than usual number of stabbings, crashes and dead bodies turning up on the premises including some related to the shootings and another that was decapitated.

There have been growing problems with crime for quite a while but in the last few months it ahs become so bad that even the mainstream media is reporting on it, although they still don’t do nearly as good a job as they could and should. Some of these reports included claims from Walmart that they’re addressing the problem and in some cases police chiefs even say they’re working together and improving things.

Perhaps in some cases this might be true but there are some that seem to follow a pattern where they go meet behind closed doors after telling the public about the problems and after meeting with politicians and representatives of Walmart they change their stories, often not making them seem very credible to those paying attention.

And on top of that there are still many reports indicating that they’re not getting better at all, especially if the research isn’t controlled by political establishment or Walmart.

The traditional media reported heavily on brawls and a false report of a shooting at malls around the country the day after Christmas; however they didn’t report that things like this happen almost everyday at Walmart nor did they report that while one of the malls had a false report Walmart had plenty of real reports in addition to several reports that were probably also false. Nor did they report on many other things that happened at Walmart, that are as dramatic or more dramatic than many of their obsession du jours including a decapitated body that also had the genitals removed, a truck crashing through the entrance and killing three people in the produce section within the store, plenty of stabbings, including one where an escaped in mate stabbed a police officer, numerous police shootings including several deaths and much more. One of the murder suicides was a Walmart employee who was also a former police officer killed by her husband.

The shootings alone resulted in at least eight to ten deaths at Walmart and there were more deaths as a result of car crashes stabbings or other reasons.

One of the people killed at Walmart was allegedly killed because someone thought he was Donald Trump, for some reason; that could have easily been highlighted as a dramatic obsession du jour if they wanted to; not that they should be reporting any events this way, but it is curios that they don’t hesitate to report obsessively on some subjects not others and fail to discuss the root causes behind crime anywhere especially at Walmart.

They also had close to a dozen other incidents that were gun related and could have easily turned into shootings including one where a disgruntled employee was planning on shooting up the store and burn it down, armed carjacking assaults on employees and guns stolen out of the case after breaking it with a skillet.

Walmart workers are protesting the high crime problems and even taking out ads to demand action; however they should be cautious about what kind of action they take. Some of these demands include requests for Walmart to hire more of their own security, which may help in the short term; however if they’re not trained well or held accountable they could be as much of the problem as they are the solution. They’re already having increased problems with privatized security and attempts to shake people down for false claims or depriving them of their legal rights.

Instead far more attention should be paid to the root causes that caused these crimes to escalate in the first place and some of that ahs to be done with the help of local communities and education programs.

Increased corporate control of the justice system isn’t going to solve this problem.

They need to disclose union busting activities which is a contributing cause of their high problems with disgruntled workers and address service problems which are angering many disgruntled customers.

There was also a report on the top ten states that had the most sales per resident at Walmart and five out of ten of them were alos in the top ten when it comes to murder rates, none were in the bottom ten; two more came in 11th and 13th, the last three were significantly lower but they were among the most rural states where crime is expected to be lower. Walmart does best in high crime areas among rural areas they sell the most, even though they don’t do well in large cities, which have the highest crime areas.

The states that they sell the most per capita are the same states with highest poverty rates, income inequality and many of the most authoritarian characteristics.

There are other social problems that could be solved if they werr4e reported on like an epidemic of stolen baby formula which is becoming big organized crime stealing it at Walmart or other stores and selling it at flea markets, yet they don’t even consider the possibility that it might not be a great idea giving them patents gouging poor people enriching the wealthy like many other medications, or trying to find some other way to make so basic an item for low income parents affordable without creating organized crime that could result in dangerous things happening to the formula as well.

They had another incident where they arrested the wrong person and handcuffed her assaulting her accusing her of stealing a purse where the victim came forward and said they had the wrong person resulting in a viral video increasing racial tension.

They had someone dumping razor blades in a babies car seat through an open window. There is little or no discussion about educating troubled people that might be more inclined to commit crimes like this; instead our political system is designed almost entirely for the benefit of corporations trying to increase profit that donate to campaigns. Educational programs that are routinely ignored could make these incidents much less common.

There were also several chases and crashes at Walmart including one with a stolen Walmart truck, and another incident where A Walmart semi driver fell out of his truck drunk.

They always have outages over insensitive items during the holidays that they wind up pulling when it creates a public relations disaster like selling mugs that say “got retard” or “Hitler” on them and they also sold toys that could spy in children and send information to corporations outraging civil rights activists. Some of these are politically impacted like the withdrawal of “Black Lives Matter” shirts because of police union demands. No doubt there is as much outrage that they pulled this without necessarily addressing many of the abusive by police against black people, or perhaps more important without addressing the root causes that would stop these problems before they escalate and lead to confrontation with police and blacks in the first place.

Increasing education and local employment among other things could reduce these conflicts without outraging either the minority community of the police, yet this isn’t done.

One of the seemingly trivial things is an ad about how they allegedly hypnotize adults into enjoying Christmas, and presumably buying more to increase their profits. This may seem silly, but either it is an ineffective scam wasting time and money or it is part of an attempt to indoctrinate the public without teaching them the full impact that it might have. If this works it only increases the obsession with purchasing hyped up garbage that doesn’t improve the quality of life.

This is one of many examples where educated people are trying to indoctrinate less educated people for the benefit of the wealthy, assuming it actually works.

Walmart had one of their cashiers selling blank gift cards and keeping the money, who was only caught because a customer tried to use it the same day and complaints about rawhide that allegedly poisoned dogs that chewed on it. Another customer got what she thought was supposed to be a gadget for some craft project for Christmas and got potatoes instead.

They had nothing to do with Dan Quayle.

They had another Hawk move in for a few days and another skinned carcass was dropped out of a truck coming though.

I didn’t make these things up.

Strange things happen at Wal-Mart!

In 2006 Wake Up Wal-Mart did a study, "Is Wal-Mart Safe?" based on incidents in 2004, (PDF) about crime at Wal-Mart which showed that it increased when Wal-Marts opened up and that crime was higher at Wal-Mart than at other retailers. Since then Wal-Mart Shootings began compiling a list of gun related incidents at Wal-Mart and demonstrated that they have a large number of them, including on average more than one shooting per week somewhere in the country. In January of 2014 another study, "Rolling Back Prices and Raising Crime Rates?" provided additional statistical research indicating that Wal-Mart might be contributing to higher crime rates or at least a slowing of the decline in crime. The study found that. “on average, communities with Walmarts had 17 more property crimes and two more violent crimes per 10,000 people than those communities without Walmarts.” I reviewed this more in Wal-Mart’s crime problem, Rolling Back Safety more than prices? where I explained that although this study is helpful they could have done better with additional data that is available and I reviewed some of that. I also added my own review about why I think that Wal-Mart policies have been contributing to higher crime in a previous blog, Wal-Mart high crime rate continues un-investigaterd and have provided additional information under the author tag Walmart Crime Watch.

Stacy Mitchell has also compiled a list of other studies about Wal-Mart and how they impact society, Key Studies on Big-Box Retail & Independent Business. To the best of my knowledge Wal-Mart has done as little as they seem to get away with, often relying on rhetoric that isn't backed up with action, when it comes to addressing any of their critics concerns, including crime. The following are a list of incidents that occurred in December 2016. According to the "Is Wal-Mart Safe?" the average store in their sampling had 250 incidents per year, indicating that these are only a fraction of the crime reports at Wal-Mart, and presumably, the ones most likely to make the news on the internet nationwide. This isn't statistically representative, as the 2006 or the "Rolling Back Prices and Raising Crime Rates?" study or some of the studies cited by Stacy Mitchell; but it does provide some additional information that may help recognize how many problems there are at Wal-Mart.

Rats In The Cellar: The American Food Industry’s Substandard Labor Conditions 11/20/2016

Like a cellar full of rats, the American food industry is infested by poor working conditions, below average wages, and rampant discriminatory, abusive labor practices.

A new report from the Food Chain Workers Alliance (FCWA), and the Solidarity Research Cooperative, entitled No Piece Of The Pie, finds that the American food system links together 21. 5 million workers—over one out of every seven workers in the U.S.— in a chain of exploitation. With such a large percentage of workers employed in the food industry, their wages and conditions have a major impact on the U.S. economy in general.

The American. food chain comprises 14% of the nation’s workforce, and is the 3rd. largest contributor to U.S. gross output, behind manufacturing and the financial sector—generating $3.5 trillion. The average U.S. household spends approximately 10% of its yearly pre-tax income—over $7,000—on food expenses.

The FCWA report says our food system is a stew of stagnant wages, substandard working conditions, inadequate fringe benefits, health and safety issues, and mistreatment at work. The 5 links in the food chain are: production, processing, distribution, retail, and services. Complete article

PELLA, Ia. — Don French, a cashier at the Wal-Mart here for almost five years, was shopping inside the store Thursday morning when he heard a loud crash.

A silver Ford F-150 pickup truck broke through the store's front doors. After it came to a rest, near a refrigerator in the produce department, three people were dead and two others were injured.

Witnesses said the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed as it went through the building entrance. The truck took out a concrete bollard placed outside the Wal-Mart entrance to block vehicles from the door.

Police and Wal-Mart officials had not released the victims' identities as of Thursday evening. But French told The Des Moines Register that two of the people killed were store employees. Complete article

A state lawmaker wants to make it more difficult for opponents of developments like the western Louisville Wal-Mart to delay such projects through the courts.

Under the proposal, introduced by state Rep. Jerry Miller, R-Louisville, individuals and groups could still file a suit against a project in circuit court. But if they lose at that level they would have to post a bond on the estimated cost of the delay to the project before they could appeal. Complete article

GRAWN, MI - The Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office arrested a man suspected of an early-morning armed robbery Friday after he was found passed out in a Walmart store a couple hours later.

Just before 5 a.m., the sheriff's office said deputies responded to an armed robbery at a Shell gas station in Grawn. The suspect, wearing a ski mask, had a handgun and demanded money from the cash register. The suspect fled the scene on foot with an undetermined amount of money.

At 6:55 a.m., the sheriff's office and the Michigan State Police responded to a call from a nearby Walmart about a man with a gun. The store was evacuated and the suspect was detained. No injuries were reported.

Information from the scene at Walmart indicates that the suspect was passed out in the store, and then pulled out a handgun when confronted by a Walmart employee. Complete article

HOMEWOOD, AL (WBRC) - Homewood police says their internal affairs team is investigating the detainment of a woman in connection to a theft case.

Homewood Police Lt. Eric Hampton says that a female victim reported that her wallet had been stolen at the Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Hampton said officers stopped Brenda Rivers for questioning because she matched the suspect description given by the victim.

“The female [Rivers] became uncompliant. The officer said she was being detained, but not at the time arrested while he investigated the theft," Hampton said.

Rivers then tried to walk away and that's when officers detained her.

The beginning of a viral video recorded of the incident shows Rivers on the floor, handcuffed by officers.

A man identified as her husband is yelling that she should not have been stopped.

While sitting on the floor, Rivers and her husband told police they had just arrived, asking them to “pull the security camera back to see when I came in the store.”

The video doesn't show how Rivers ended up on the floor but shows officers trying to lift her up. When officers try to lift her from the floor, she said, “You are hurting my arm. Let me go. I am a human being!”

Police said in the video they detained Rivers for failure to comply. Witnesses in the video claim that the theft victim told officers Rivers wasn't the same woman who stole her wallet.

Later in the video, the actual theft victim can be seen walking up to an officer and saying Rivers isn't the woman who stole from her. Complete article

Walmart agrees to $7.5 million settlement in discrimination suit 12/02/2016

Walmart has agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a suit that alleged the chain discriminated against gay employees.

The class-action suit, which was announced Friday, claimed that Walmart denied spousal health insurance benefits to same-sex employees between 2011 and 2013. Jacqueline Cote filed the complaint in July 2015 on behalf of other Walmart employees whose same-sex spouses were also denied health insurance.

It was not immediately known how many current and former Walmart employees would be affected by the settlement. Complete article

BRANDON — A 28-year-old man shot and killed himself late Friday an instant before a Hillsborough County deputy fired his gun at him, authorities said.

Paul Mebane died from his injuries after a confrontation with deputies at a Brandon Walmart after he raised a firearm in a car with three young children. The children, ages 4 to 10, were uninjured and taken into custody by Child Protection Services.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a call by Tampa police at 9:15 p.m. Friday to help find a missing man who was believed to be suicidal.

Deputies found Mebane 30 minutes later at the back of the Walmart parking lot on S Gornto Lake Road and Causeway Boulevard.

Col. Donna Lusczynski said deputies approached the car from the rear and saw Mebane with a firearm in his hand. As deputies drew nearer, Mebane began to raise the weapon.

"They gave commands for him to drop the weapon, to which he did not," she said. "At that point deputies felt in fear for their life and fired rounds at the subject."

Officials originally thought Deputy Cabot Brown had killed Mebane. But preliminary results from the Medical Examiner's Office showed that Mebane shot himself an instant before the deputy fired. Complete article

COLUMBIA Thirty Columbia Wal-Mart employees Thursday became the retail giant’s first South Carolina graduates of the corporation’s excelerated new training program designed to make its stores more competitive.

The employees, all of whom work at the Bush River Road superstore as department managers, underwent two weeks of training aimed both at providing the workers core retail skills and sales floor knowledge the company hopes will improve customer service, department by department.

The training, which takes place in a dedicated portion of the stores that have been specified as Training Academies, concentrates on leadership skills, merchandising, technology, operations and customer service. Complete article

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - A Pasco County mother said she left all four of her windows cracked about an inch to keep the car cool while she ran into Walmart for groceries. When she returned to the car she says someone had dropped inch long razor blades onto her children’s car seats.

“Somebody is out there trying to hurt children,” Kim Battease said. “I had all my windows vented and they (razors) were only in the car seats. They were in my kids seats and only my kids seats.”

Battease said there were a total of three, one inch long brand new razor blades in the car.

“Some monster wants to go around and hurt kids for no reason,” Battease said. “I can't wrap my mind around it honestly.”

Battease said normally her children ages eight and five would just buckle themselves in. Thankfully, Battease had to grab mail out of the back seat. Complete article

Two southwest Iowa residents are in custody after their shoplifting attempt at Walmart went awry.

Anna Armstrong, 28, and Clifford Palmer, 68, both of Corning, are in custody after an incident at the Walmart on Manawa Centre Drive, according to the Council Bluffs Police Department.

Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, an officer was called to the store on a report that Armstrong had shoplifted and was in the process of leaving the business. Near the front door, Armstrong fought with the officer as he attempted to handcuff her.

Palmer pulled up in his vehicle, and Armstrong was able to open the front passenger door and get inside the vehicle, police said. When the officer attempted to pull Armstrong from the building, Palmer sped away. The door hit the officer in the leg.

Additional officers pulled the vehicle over near Walmart, and both suspects were arrested. During a search of the vehicle, police found methamphetamine and marijuana, the department said. Complete article

A Prescott woman was stopped by police before she carried out a plan to kill her co-workers and burn down the Walmart where she worked, officials said Sunday.

Early Saturday morning, Prescott police arrested 24-year-old Ebonice Johnson after discovering her in the back of the store, located off State Route 69, with a .22-caliber rifle she said she intended to use, according to a Prescott Police Department press release.

Earlier in the day, Johnson got into an argument with several co-workers during an early morning shift, police said. She was frustrated with her manager and unhappy with how a situation was handled, breaking a cash register before leaving the store, according to police.

Johnson went home and retrieved the rifle, a knife and a torch before writing on her computer about her intentions to kill her co-workers and die by forcing police to shoot her, Prescott police said. Williams also texted family members telling them of her plans, according to police. Complete article

Two dead in officer-involved shooting near Wal-Mart, Cinemark in American Fork Utah 12/05/2016

Two people were killed in shootings near the Cinemark Theatre and Wal-Mart in American Fork on Sunday evening.

According to officials, one man and one woman were killed in the incident that began at around 7:30 p.m. and ended with an officer-involved shooting in front of the movie theater on West Main Street.

Dispatch received a 911 call from a woman at 7:26 p.m. saying that someone was shooting at her vehicle.

"She was frantic and screaming something about shots being fired at her car," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff's Office. ....
"We don't know if those rounds hit the suspect or not," Cannon said. "It's possible also that he may have sustained a self-inflicted wound, but we don't know that. All we know is that he did sustain a head wound."

Officers and bystanders performed CPR and life-saving measures on the suspect for about 20 minutes, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Medical helicopters and ambulances also responded to the scene. Complete article

According to the FBI Murder Rates listed at Death Penalty Information Center five of the states that spend the most at Walmart are among the ten states with the highest murder rates; two more come in at eleventh and thirteenth; the other three are in the lower half but not the bottom ten. This correlation is consistent with studies showing Walmart has more crime than other stores; however it is highly unlikely that Walmart directly influences these high rates. It is more likely that they come from a common cause. These states have higher use of corporal punishment and poverty and lower education available to them; and they’re less able to stand up to oligarchies as indicated in the study previously reviewed Wal-Mart’s crime problem, Rolling Back Safety more than prices?

How much the average Alabamian spends each year at Walmart. Hint: It's a lot 12/05/2016

.... Nationally, Walmart has some $288 billion in annual sales. Those sales aren't equally distributed by state, however. GoBankingRates.com analyzed sales tax information to determine the states where people spend the most money at Walmart. ....

How does that rank nationally? Here's the top 10 list of states where people spend the most at Walmart:

A group of North Texas women is upset after finding a Black Friday deal that turned out to be too good to be true.

Monique Daniels said a friend told her about a great deal on a Samsung TV for $99 on Walmart.com on Black Friday. She checked the app, and there it was, so she shared the deal with her friends.

Daniels and her friends jumped on it quickly before it was too late. Daniels bought two 40-inch TVs and a 75-inch TV that typically range from about $300 to $2,000 for $99 each. .....

But during the weekend, they all started receiving emails saying their orders were cancelled, because the customer “changed mind.”

"And I'm like, 'No, I didn’t change my mind,'" Daniels said.

We asked Wal-Mart about the cancellations and they sent us this statement saying:

“Unfortunately, due to a pricing error, we needed to cancel some customer orders on a certain TV item. We’ve reached out to apologize to customers and offer them a gift card for the inconvenience.” Complete article

An activist group is running television advertisements in four U.S. markets as part of a nationwide campaign highlighting the amount of petty crime that occurs at Walmart stores and the extent to which it ties up law enforcement resources.

Making Change at Walmart — a Washington D.C.-based group that says it is "seeking to change Walmart into a more responsible employer" — announced the campaign Wednesday.

While the advertisements will not be running locally, the Springfield Police Department has been specifically working to reduce crime at the city's Supercenters for nearly two years.

News outlet Bloomberg reported in August that Arkansas-based Walmart has a database of how much crime happens on its properties and that each store is assigned a risk score, based on the likelihood of different types of crimes occurring there. Making Change at Walmart wants the company to disclose its database and the risk scores "to provide employees, customers, and their communities the information they need to hold Walmart accountable for security funding decisions." Complete article

A number of Walmart stores around the country have been called out for being the epicenters of disproportionate levels of criminal activity and calls to the police. Now a union-backed labor advocacy group is using this information against the nation’s largest retailer in an TV ad campaign highlighting Walmart’s alleged high crime rates — and its cost to local taxpayers.

The TV ads——created by Making Change at Walmart, a project of the United Food and Commercial Workers union——will run in four metro areas, including Tampa, where the local newspaper analyzed police visits to discount stores and found that the cops were dispatched to Walmart four times as often as Target. Another city where the ads will air is Tulsa, where Bloomberg Businessweek profiled the man called “Officer Walmart,” who spends his entire work day inside a Walmart store dealing with crime there. ....

Consumerist reached out to Walmart for comment on the MCAW ad campaign, but have not yet received a response. However, the retailer did tell Bloomberg that it has been investing in store security, including off-duty officers in stores working security, and a program for first-time shoplifting offenders that keeps suspects from being arrested.

A Bloomberg report has revealed there have likely been "hundreds of thousands" of petty crimes on Wal-Mart properties this year, including at least one violent crime per day.

Making Change at Wal-Mart, a group of labor activists, is pushing for Wal-Mart to hire off-duty police officers and private security guards to combat the high amount of crime that turns costly for taxpayers.

A Tampa Bay Times story used an example of a man who stole a 98-cent bottle of sweet tea.

"A police officer worked two hours on the case, including filling out paperwork for a petty theft charge. Before posting bail, the man spent 10 days in jail, a cost of about $1,230 to taxpayers," The Times said.

An Atlanta police sergeant was indicted on charges of excessive force related to an incident at Wal-Mart, where he worked off-duty security.

Trevor King, 48, of Rex, is accused of breaking a customer’s leg in 2014 at the Wal-Mart on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Atlanta, U.S. District Attorney spokesman Bob Page said in a news release.

King was allegedly dressed in his APD uniform and carrying a police baton when he tried to stop someone from leaving the store by grabbing his shirt and striking him several times.

“He wrongfully believed the customer had shoplifted,” Page wrote in the release. Complete article

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Police believe an escaped inmate is also the same man responsible for stabbing an officer several times inside a Columbia Walmart Wednesday, according to WSOC.

A massive manhunt is underway for Michael Williamson, who they say escaped from the McCormick Correction Institute and traveled 90 minutes to Columbia, where he’s accused of stabbing a female officer multiple times inside the Walmart.

Investigators in Columbia believe he escaped the prison around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday before heading to Columbia.

Police said the officer was responding to a shoplifting call at the Walmart on Bush River Road around 10 p.m. and chased after Williamson. That’s when officials said he turned and stabbed the officer several times. Complete article

Suspect in Ithaca NY Walmart Homicide Holed up in Residence After Shooting at Police 12/08/2016

Police say a suspect who allegedly killed a man in the Walmart parking lot has fired “a long gun” at police officers and is holed up in a residence on Dryden Road.

After responding to reports of a shooting at Walmart at 12:52 a.m., officers from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Cayuga Heights Police Department noticed a vehicle matching the suspect’s driving north on Route 13 and attempted to make a traffic stop, according to Ithaca Police Chief John Barber.

The suspect fled for a quarter mile, Barber said, before turning into a driveway, exiting the vehicle with a “long gun” and firing at least one round in the direction of officers, who did not return fire and were uninjured.
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State Police, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and Ithaca Police are at the scene on the 1200 block of Dryden Road and officials warned people to avoid the area. County officials said that TCAT buses and the Dryden and Ithaca school districts have been notified of the active scene.

The victim, wearing a UPS uniform, was fatally shot by a man in a black truck, who then ran over the victim and peeled out, according to witnesses. Complete article

SPOKANE, Wash. - A plan to hijack a semi-truck loaded with merchandise from Walmart triggered a pursuit today that left motorists dodging the speeding 18 wheeler.

Investigators say long-time thief Daren Allen Suiter, 38, was behind the wheel of the big rig as it careened around some of Spokane's busiest streets.

The precise route of the chase isn't clear, but we know it started in the 3100 block of N. Coleman. The truck made its way to Central and Lidgerwood where it crashed into a vehicle. The chase ended in the 1500 block of E. Dalton.

This could be considered one of the biggest chases in Spokane's history, especially if you go by gross weight and the number of miles driven.

Vehicle pursuits are always dangerous, but this one was particularly brutal, taking out a fence and crushing a car, all because two thieves wanted an entire truckload of stolen loot. This is what stopped the driver's long haul getaway, as he crashed into other cars, narrowly missing others. Complete article

CLAY, N.Y. -- The death of a man found behind a Clay Wal-Mart last week is not suspicious, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said this week.

The man's body was found on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in a patch of cattails off of Laser Drive, said Sgt. Jon Seeber, an Onondaga County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Laser Drive is a secluded road near Route 31 that runs behind Wal-Mart and Bryant & Stratton College.

The man -- whose name was not released -- was 28 years old, Seeber said. His death was not suspicious, he said. Complete article

GODFREY — Madison County authorities have charged two people with theft of 250 bottles of baby formula from the Walmart on Godfrey Road, apparently part of what authorities are calling a growing national trend.

Charged are Terry L. Little, 34, and Darnell Gregory, 37, both of St. Louis. Authorities said the suspects simply loaded up shopping carts and attempted to leave the store on Nov. 29. Bail on each suspect is $45,000. The suspects were on parole from similar offenses in Missouri.

Little is accused of taking 75 bottles of baby formula and a television. In a second count, he is accused of taking about 100 bottles of the powder formula. In each case, the value of the items was placed at more than $300 Complete article

SALT LAKE CITY — The recent arrests in Utah of three people accused of stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of baby formula is the latest example of a problem that officials say is vexing stores and police nationwide as thieves systematically swipe the mixture from shelves and resell it to unsuspecting parents.

Baby formula is a major expense for many new parents, with small canisters starting around $20 and special or prescription blends costing two or three times that.

It’s also widely used. More than a third of infants receive formula in addition to breastmilk in their first six months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Often, babies who are weaned of breastmilk will continue to drink formula into their toddler years.

The high price and broad demand make it an enticing target for thieves, who typically sell the stolen formula at flea markets or list it on websites like Craigslist and eBay.

Officials say the suspect who was shot by officers at a Walmart in West Virginia has died.

According to a statement from the West Virginia State Police, the shooting occurred Sunday afternoon in the Walmart parking lot in White Hall. The incident involved two officers from two separate, unspecified agencies.

The statement says officers were trying to execute a bailpiece on the suspect for felony offenses. The suspect "operated a motor vehicle in an aggressive manner toward officers." The officers then shot the suspect. Complete article

Crab Thief Jacks Car at Geneseo NY Walmart 12/12/2016

GENESEO – The Geneseo Police Department arrested a Rochester resident for allegedly dragging a woman from her car in the Walmart parking lot and speeding off with armloads of food and clothes.

According to a press release from Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Shamon Bedell, 44, was arrested for felony Robbery in the Second Degree and misdemeanor Petit Larceny. The incident started on Nov. 18 when Bedell allegedly worked with Sherry Nichols, 43, of Mount Morris, to steal $609.87 of merchandise clothes including mens underwear and meats including steaks, lobster tails and snow crab. Osganian said that Walmart employees were likely already aware of the thefts when the pair came out of the store and, they allege, Bedell forcibly pulled the woman who had driven them from Rochester from her vehicle.

“Bedell and Nichols didn’t know the victim per se but she had driven them from Rochester that day,” said Osganian. “Bedell pulled the driver from her vehicle, Nichols gets in the passenger seat and they take off out of the Village and onto 390 north eventually reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. Our officer did broadcast to 911 a basic description of the vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office to take up the pursuit.” Complete article

NEW BERN, Craven County - Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, New Bern Police got several 911 calls alerting them to a driver who crashed into the Walmart parking lot on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

New Bern Police told NewsChannel 12 a male driver veered off of Hwy 17 as he was traveling north, went through a ditch, the U.S. Cellular parking lot and then crashed into seven cars in the Walmart parking lot.

The driver then fled the scene by foot. The unidentified driver was caught by police under the US 70 bypass. Complete article

Meridian police are looking for a man who pointed a handgun at a store employee and escaped after reportedly stealing items ranging from women's underwear to auto parts Monday morning.

The theft and aggravated battery were reported about 11:20 a.m. at the Wal-Mart, 4051 E. Fairview Ave., police said.

The man reportedly piled more than $1,000 worth of merchandise into a shopping cart, then left the store without paying, police said. Before a store employee could confront the man at his car, the thief pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the employee, saying “get back or I am going to shoot you,” police said. Complete article

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man tried to abduct a young boy at a Walmart store in Bend on Sunday, police said.

32-year-old La Pine resident Dennis Anderson is accused of following a child and his mother around the store and then trying to walk out of the store with the boy when he wandered away from his mother.

The boy did not leave with Anderson and was with his mother when police arrived on scene. Anderson had already left the store but officers identified him using surveillance video. Complete article

CLINTON, Miss — Clinton police have released surveillance video of a gun theft Sunday at Walmart.

The video, which was recorded about 3 a.m., shows a man in a dark hooded sweatshirt going behind the unoccupied gun counter at the store on Highway 80. He browsed the guns in the display case for a few minutes before walking over to the side of the counter and grabbing an iron skillet to smash the glass and grab a shotgun.

Clinton police Chief Ford Hayman said the theft didn't appear to be an elaborate scheme, but one that was relatively thought out because the thief used his hood to hide his face from surveillance cameras. He also knew to escape through an exit door in the nearby automotive section.

"That is a weapon on the street, wherever it is -- Clinton, Jackson -- or wherever, and we don't like that," Hayman said. Complete article

It has all the ingredients of a Miami election drama: winning candidates who allegedly shouldn’t have been allowed on the ballot; an 11th hour lawsuit; and a power struggle with the world’s largest retailer.

Chances are, you’ve never heard of the Midtown Community Development District. But a lawsuit that effectively stopped two activists from taking a seat on the board of the public agency has placed the tiny district in a unique spotlight.

Grant Stern, a Miami mortgage broker, and Peter Ehrlich, a Lemon City property owner, were elected to the Midtown district’s board of supervisors at the ballot box by a majority of some 300 district voters on Nov. 8 and were to be sworn in Tuesday afternoon. But the district’s board stopped short of welcoming them after an affiliate of DDR, the owner of the Shops at Midtown Miami, filed suit on the evening of Dec. 9 to stop them from taking office. .....

But there’s a bigger picture to this quandary: Stern and Ehrlich are staunch critics of the massive Walmart superstore planned within the district boundaries on land sold by a DDR affiliate. Complete article

Twin Cities Minn. legislators say Walmart is dumping its security costs on the public 12/15/2016

Metro area Walmarts rely on police to deal with shoplifting more than any other business, including rival big box stores like Target and Cub.

Legislators from St. Paul and Brooklyn Park say the discount giant has been gobbling up an unfair portion of their cities’ public resources. Rather than hiring their own security to deal with petty crimes, they say, Walmart is forcing taxpayers to subsidize security for its stores.

In the past year, the St. Paul Walmart made 2,129 calls for service; Bloomington had 1,250; Brooklyn Center 1,099; and Brooklyn Park 480. The total cost to these cities is estimated to be a little more than $3 million.

“A lot of times when Walmart comes into the cities, they ask for tax breaks, they ask for other incentives so that they can build there, and their thing is, ‘Well, we can provide jobs,’” says Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Park). “Well, they’re not providing that many jobs, they’re not providing well-paying jobs, and then they’re dumping their security problems back on the city resources.” Complete article

Authorities were tracking down two men accused of making a fraudulent return at the Wal-Mart on Whittlesey Boulevard Dec. 9 when they got involved in a high-speed chase that ended with a crash, according to testimony Thursday morning in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Authorities identified the five suspects in the fleeing car that was reported stolen from Henry County that same day as James Deon Raymond 26, Faith Mariaregina Taylor, 19, Coreycia Queonshann Spratling, 25, Brittany Shatara Temple, 24, and Justice Amondilin Anderson, 24.

Each suspect pleaded not guilty to numerous charges related to the incident aside from Anderson, who posted bond prior to Thursday’s hearing.

Columbus Police Officer Officer Drew Osbon said he was called to the Wal-Mart at 5448 Blvd. around 11:49 a.m. Dec. 9.

He spoke with an employee who reported that two black men, later identified as Anderson and Raymond, selected a $53 flannel comforter set and made a fraudulent return at the store. The men fled the scene in a green Chevrolet Tahoe with three women, according to police. Complete article

RANTOUL — Police are searching for a man and a woman after a man was injured during a robbery and shooting Thursday night outside the Rantoul Wal-Mart.

Rantoul police Sgt. Justin Bouse said in a release that officers were called to the retailer at 8:08 p.m. on a report of a shooting. When they arrived, witnesses told them both the shooter and the victim had fled the area in different vehicles.

"The victim said he fled because he didn't know if the person would come back," Bouse said.

A little later, officers were called to the 1300 block of Harmon Drive to respond to the victim. When they arrived, they found he had injuries to his face that they discovered were the result of glass that had broken during the shooting and not a gunshot. Complete article

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police in LaGrange are looking for a man who tried to rob a woman at gunpoint in a busy store parking lot.
She told police she was walking in the Walmart parking lot around 8:30 a.m. Friday when a tan Ford Focus pulled up beside her.

A man with blond hair and a scruffy beard in his late teens or early 20s pointed a camouflage-colored rifle at her and demanded money.

"It's terrifying, especially as a woman it makes me not want to go anywhere by myself. And it's not even night time. It's in the middle of the day, so you just don't feel safe," shopper Hayley Cook said.

DALLAS, Ore. (KOIN) — A DUII stop outside a Dallas, Oregon Walmart escalated to gunshots that left one officer wounded and the suspect dead.

The Friday night incident involved 3 officers, which escalated quickly. It resulted in one officer being shot in the leg. He is expected to survive.

According to Oregon State Police, the suspect was also shot and he died at the scene.

At a press briefing Friday night, Oregon State Police Lt. Bill Charpentier did not disclose the names of the those involved, but promised more information as the investigation unfolded. Complete article

GREENSBURG, Ind. – A Greensburg Walmart associate who was hospitalized for carbon monoxide exposure claims she notified management numerous times about the possible leak.

The worker fell ill while working third shift and was admitted to Decatur County Memorial Hospital after leaving the store around 7 a.m. Friday.

She spoke with WRBI on a condition of anonymity to protect her job.

Emergency crews were called around 8:30 a.m. to the Walmart Supercenter after carbon monoxide was believed to be leaking from the heating units. The store was evacuated until 11 a.m. Complete article

Man stabbed multiple times at Walmart 12/16/2016

An online car sale turned violent Thursday night after the seller reportedly stabbed a potential buyer in the parking lot of the Seventh Avenue Walmart and then fled the scene.

A Longview husband and wife, both aged 41, met the suspect at the Walmart to respond to ad for a car through OfferUp.com, an online marketplace similar to Craigslist.

After a test drive with the vehicle, the two sides couldn’t agree on the price and the seller reportedly stabbed the husband multiple times. He then robbed the wife and fled in his vehicle while a nearby witness called 911. Complete article

Petitioner, CHICO ADVOCATES FOR A RESPONSIBLE ECONOMY (“Petitioner” or
“CARE”) respectfully petitions this Court for a Writ of Mandate pursuant to Code of Civil
Procedure sections 1085 and 1094.5, and for a declaration of rights directed to the City of Chico
(“City”), by and through the City Council, to decertify the Environmental Impact Report
(“EIR”), prepared and certified for the Chico Walmart Expansion Project (“Project”), wherein
the existing Walmart store will be expanded up to 66,500 square feet, an eight pump fuel station
with a 1,500 square foot convenience store will be developed, and create two outlot parcels with
development area of 52,000 square feet. The City’s actions violate State and local environmental
laws and amount to a prejudicial abuse of discretion. A writ of mandate is necessary to remedy
the City’s failure to adequately address the Project’s environmental impacts; to ensure the City
complies with all applicable laws, and to ensure proper review, disclosure, and mitigation of the
potential environmental impacts resulting from the approval and development of the Project
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). By this Petition, Petitioner
represents the following: Complete article PDF

Stabbing Victim Dies After Being Found Near Walmart In California 12/18/2016

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a man has died after being stabbed multiple times in Santa Ana.

The victim, described as a man in his late 20s or 30s was found in the rear of a Walmart located on West McFadden Avenue overnight Sunday.

When officers arrived, they located him, and transported him to a hospital where he died. Complete article

Teen recovering after shooting outside DeKalb Ga. Wal-Mart 12/18/2016

LITHONIA, Ga. -- DeKalb County police are on the hunt for a shooting suspect after an incident Sunday evening.

Officers were called to the Walmart on Farrington Road Sunday afternoon after reports of shots fired.

Officers arrived to find a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the back. The victim told investigators he was shot after getting into an argument with another man in the store's parking lot. Complete article

Body found decapitated near Albuquerque NM Walmart 12/19/2016

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Albuquerque police are investigating the death of a man found decapitated with his genitalia removed near a Walmart over the weekend.

The body of a man was discovered just after midnight Saturday in a landscaping area near the Walmart on Menaul and Wyoming. Neither the man’s head or genitalia were found near the scene.

Police said they believe the man is a 42-year-old white male, but are awaiting the Office of the Medical Investigator for positive identification. Complete article

An off-duty NYPD officer was busted for stealing soap, toothbrushes and other cleaning supplies from a Walmart in Newburgh, N.Y., cops said.

Shawn Carter, 44, who lives in neighboring New Windsor, was using the self-checkout line, but he only scanned some of his items through on Friday night, police sources said.
He didn’t pay for $46.84 in merchandise — Irish Spring body wash, three toothbrushes, Percil laundry detergent containers, and Brute-brand plastic bags, police sources said.

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has asked Walmart to prohibit the online sale of apparel with the words “BULLETPROOF” and “Black Lives Matter,” calling the slogans offensive.

The letter states, in part, “I am writing on behalf of the membership of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you that third-party sellers are using your website to sell offensive shirts and sweatshirts with the slogans ‘BULLETPROOF’ and ‘Black Lives Matter.’ I urge you to prohibit the use of the Walmart name and website for the retail sale of these products.

The letter, signed by FOP National President Chuck Canterbury, was released Tuesday. Complete article

LAWTON, Ok (KSWO) - Lawton Police responded to the Wal-Mart on Sheridan Road after an altercation ended in gunfire.

Officials say a car drove up to the grocery side of the store where an argument began between people in the car and people walking outside the store. One of the people then walked up to the car and punched an occupant of the vehicle.

One of the people in the car then fired off approximately 10 rounds which Lawton Police said were “blanks.” Complete article

(KMSP) - A Minnesota man is being charged after troopers pulled him over for driving a Wal-Mart semi-truck while drunk. A video from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows the driver falling out of the truck and rolling and crawling on the ground, causing to troopers shut down an entire lane of traffic.

The incident took place around 6 p.m. on July 16. Minnesota State Patrol troopers were alerted to a semi-truck that was swerving over the lanes of Highway 10. The semi served off the right shoulder, hit a sign and swerved back to the left before eventually coming to a stop on the right shoulder.

The driver, identified as Jonathan Czech, 45, of Isle, Minnesota, told the trooper who pulled him over that he was traveling from Minot. The trooper noticed Czech’s speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and watery and he smelled of alcohol. He admitted to consuming a “few beers.” Complete article

ROCKTON, Ill. (WIFR) -- Rockton Police are investigating after they say the body of a man was found near a local Walmart.

According to Rockton Chief of Police Stephen Dickson, the body was discovered in a gray van behind the Rockton Walmart around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The Winnebago County Coroner says a preliminary report shows the man was shot to death. Investigators say a delivery driver found the man slumped over the wheel. Rockton Police stress they believe there is no danger to the public and they have ruled out foul play. Complete article

My Turn: How Walmart can stop crime at its stores 12/20/2016

My Turn: A company that earned $14 billion in profit last year should not be asking taxpayers to subsidize its security.
Around 100 to 150 million people a week visit a Walmart store in the United States, and Phoenix alone has 14 Walmart stores.

As Bloomberg News reported earlier this year, Walmarts across the country have become a regular stop for police officers responding to shoplifting and other petty crimes, which can diminish law enforcement resources that could be better used preventing more serious crimes in our communities.

The Republic's Megan Cassidy also reported that “between 2011 and mid-2016, three of the top five addresses to which Phoenix police officers responded were Walmart stores.” Additionally, “The Walmart at Christown Spectrum Mall, at 17th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, averaged more police dispatches than any other address in the city during that 5 1/2-year span.” Complete article

Ad of the Day: Adults Hate Christmas So Much That Walmart Hypnotized Them Into Enjoying It Chris Jones stars in Saatchi's 'Holiday Hypnosis' By Angela Natividad 12/21/2016

Walmart's holiday ad begins by reminding us of something we already know: Kids love Christmas. They can't sleep. They tear their presents open like wild animals. They scream.

Adults, on the other hand, are way less keen. Christmas is stressful. It's laborious. It's expensive. And it's a minefield of actively unfun corporate holiday parties.

Then the ad ramps up. "At Walmart," it tells us, "we believe grownups should have a joyful Christmas too."

How's that? we wonder. Will you dim your abrasive lights? Will you make your aisles less cluttered? Will you, at the very least, give us a flashmob?

No. None of those things. Instead, Walmart is giving us Chris Jones, a hypnotist.

In "Holiday Hypnosis," by Saatchi & Saatchi New York, Jones meets various harried adults and interviews them about their favorite childhood Christmases. Then, after placing them in a trance, he gets them to relive them. Complete article

SPARTANBURG, SC (WSPA) – Spartanburg Police were called to the Walmart on E Main St. around 9:30 Wednesday night for a report of a disturbance with a weapon.

The complainant said they saw a man get out of a minivan and walk into Wal-mart with a gun.

Police started interviewing people when they saw a man that matched the suspect description that appeared to be avoiding the officer.

The officer drew their gun and told the suspect to put his hands up when they noticed he was carrying a bag of ammunition.
The officer says they saw they saw a black gun come out from under the man’s jacket and started yelling command to drop the gun.

The man dropped the gun and hot on his knees but didn’t completely get on the ground, according to the officer.

The officer went to handcuff the man and holstered his gun.

The suspect saw the officer holster his gun and tried to run which turned into a scuffle between the officer and the suspect.

The officer says the suspect tried to circle around the minivan to pick up his gun so he used the Tazer on the man. Complete article

Amazon, Walmart urged to stop selling "spying" doll 12/20/2016

Consumer advocates are pressing retailers including Amazon.com (AMZN) and Walmart (WMT) to stop selling a doll that can eavesdrop on children and families.

The groups are asking the retailers to discontinue sales of the doll My Friend Cayla following a complaint they filed earlier this month with the Federal Trade Commission. The complaint alleges the doll and another toy, which isn’t sold in the U.S., can send recordings to Nuance Communications (NUAN). The speech-to-text software company has contracts with military and law enforcement agencies, among other customers.

The doll, made by interactive toy maker Genesis, are no laughing matter, according to the consumer privacy advocates, who say that these and other wireless-enabled devices can open the door to hackers, privacy violations and other unsavory behavior. In the case of My Friend Cayla, the doll is programmed to respond to a child’s questions; it uses equipment including a Bluetooth microphone and a mobile application, which requests access to the parents’ or child’s devices, such as its hardware, storage and Wi-Fi connections.

“My Friend Cayla poses significant security risks that could place children in physical danger,” Josh Golin, executive director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. “Genesis fails to require basic authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized Bluetooth connections between the doll and a smartphone or tablet.” Complete article

Man stabbed outside Fort Collins Colorado Walmart 12/21/2016

A Loveland man reportedly stabbed an acquaintance in the back of the head and arm after the two met outside a Fort Collins Walmart on Monday.

The crime came to light when the victim, Nathan Collins, arrived of his own volition at McKee Medical Center in Loveland with stab wounds. Collins told a police officer who responded to the medical center that he only knew the alleged assailant by his first name and his street name, "Shifty," according to the man's arrest affidavit.

The suspect, Ryan Bennett, 33, got into a fight with his girlfriend and she left him, at which point he called Collins to ask for a ride home shortly before midnight Monday, Complete article

Man arrested after armed robbery at Wilmington NC Walmart 12/22/2016

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – One man is behind bars after an early morning armed robbery at the Walmart on Sigmon Road.

Wilmington police say it happened around 3:15 a.m.

Walmart employees told police that a man put a knife to the back of a cashier and took cash from the cashier’s hand. The man then ran out of the store and was chased by Walmart security. Complete article

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Two men face charges after a shooting that happened Saturday evening at the Walmart on Garners Ferry.

Officers have charged 22-year-old Elliot Caldwell with attempted murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Officers also charged 25-year-old Bradley Spigner with possession of a firearm during a violent crime, shooting into a dwelling, and attempted murder.

According to officers, Caldwell got into an altercation with the shooting victim at the Walmart. During the altercation, Caldwell fired several rounds, striking the victim. This is when officers say a vehicle pulled up and Spigner started to open fire on Caldwell.

The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A woman who fell down while trying to run out of the store following the shooting was also transported to the hospital. Complete article

Woman arrested for leaving newborn at Louisiana Walmart linked to hot car death of toddler in 2009 12/24/2016

(WAFB) - Kyandrea Thomas, 34, who was arrested Saturday, December 24 by the New Roads Police Department after allegedly leaving her newborn infant in a trash can at the Walmart in New Roads, was also arrested in 2009 in connection with the hot car death of a toddler.

It's a crime police are calling senseless.

"It's a hard thing to work any time of the year, but especially at Christmas time," said Shael Stringer, spokesman for the New Roads Police Department.

Police believe Thomas gave birth to a baby girl in the store’s bathroom before throwing her in the trash and leaving the store. Pointe Coupee Chief Deputy Coroner Joe Gannon said had police not arrived when they did, the baby would be dead. Complete article

Louisville woman captures Ky. Wal-Mart fight on camera 12/24/2016

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — These folks may end up with coal in their stockings for Christmas.

People got into a brawl at a Wal-Mart in Louisville, and it was caught on camera by Marlene Jaggers.

The video, which has been shared more than 6,000 times on Facebook, shows punches being thrown, people on the floor and store items being used to hit people. Complete article

EAST GREENBUSH >> An Albany man was arrested Friday after police said he threatened a clerk at the Walmart store on Route 4 with a knife.

Town police said Melvin A. Rivera-Andino, 21, waved an open jackknife at a deli clerk in the store during a dispute, then walked behind the service counter to confront her. Store security responded and held the suspect until police arrived.

Rivera-Andino was charged with second-degree menacing and second-degree reckless endangerment and was held pending arraignment in East Greenbush Town Court. Complete article

TUPELO – Tupelo Police Department officials are currently investigating a shooting that took place at Walmart on West Main Street late Monday evening.

Around 8:45 p.m., a call was received for shots fired at the store.

According to Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre, many details of the shooting are still being determined.

“We did have shots fired over there and right now we are in the process of looking over the video footage to see what happened,” Aguirre said. “We have two vehicles hit by bullets, but no victims. Right now, it’s too early to tell.” Complete article

Police search for Walmart shooting suspects 12/28/2016
This is the second incident in less than two weeks in the same parking lot involving a handgun. On the afternoon of Dec. 14, a male brandished a handgun and tried to force a woman out of her vehicle. She struggled with him, and he fled with two accomplices. Following a pursuit that ended with a search of a nearby neighborhood, three juvenile boys (ages 14, 16 and 17) were arrested and charged as adults.

Police log: Ariz. Walmart bomb threat 12/28/2016 The transmission said in part,"Hey Walmart, you're all going to explode in 15 minutes," and used the store's code word for a bomb threat, according to the police report.... No bomb or explosive devices were found in the building, and according to the police report officers had no leads on who called in the bomb threat, but suspect it was an employee or ex-employee because the person in the radio transmission used the store's code for a bomb threat.

MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) - Murfreesboro police are searching for a man accused of raping a 38-year-old woman outside of the Walmart on Old Fort Parkway this weekend.
The victim told investigators she was attacked by a Hispanic man wearing a yellow pullover around 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

According to the report, the alleged rape happened in some bushes near the Bank of America ATM. The victim said she bit the man on the arm and drove herself to the hospital.

Officers responded just after 11 p.m., and Murfreesboro police have yet to make any arrests.

This comes less than four months after another woman told police she was raped in the Walmart parking lot on South Rutherford Boulevard, just six miles away. That victim later told police she didn’t want to move forward with prosecution and no arrests were made. Complete article

It’s no secret that Walmart sees its share of shoplifters. Nationally, high level of shoplifting incidents, as well as other criminal activity, occurs within the superstore’s walls.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, police responded to city Walmart stores just under 2,000 times in 2015.

Just like the thousands across the United States, the local Walmart at 511 N. Highway 52 in Moncks Corner is the mecca for hundreds of shoplifters who consider the store’s massive size an advantage when trying to lift an item or two.

“You may feel a little more comfortable in a big store,” Moncks Corner Police Chief Rick Ollic said. “They think it’s more accessible to do things and not be noticed.”

In 2015, the police department recorded 194 Walmart shoplifting incidents – offenders ranging from petty thieves who steal in the spur of the moment, as well as more determined suspects who need income to facilitate a drug habit, or are struggling financially, Ollic said. In 2016, that number of incidents crawled to 215. Complete article

Minn. Walmart called local police more than 600 times this year 12/28/2016

Police officers go to Walmart, off of Highway 55 and General Sieben Road, nearly every day. Sometimes they go twice a day. However, it's not so they can browse the aisles for a good deal. Most of the time they are called for a shoplifting incident, said Bryan Schafer, Hastings' chief of police.

The Hastings Police Department was called to Walmart more than 600 times in 2016. That's an average of 1.7 times per day. In comparison, Target, located just across Highway 55 from Walmart, called the HPD 97 times in 2016 (as of Dec. 15).

The number of police calls to Walmart stores not just in Hastings, but around the region, has been cause for concern for some. Last week, a press conference was held in St. Paul regarding how Walmart relies on public tax dollars and local police resources instead of investing in security within their stores. The Making Change at Walmart campaign, Minnesota State Representatives and Brooklyn Park City Council members were present at the gathering.

Rep. John Lesch, DFL-St. Paul, spoke at the press conference on Dec. 14.

"Right here in Minnesota we have a tradition of ensuring that our public resources are shared fairly and equally, and right now, Walmart is consuming an inordinate share of those resources," he said. Complete article

LODI -- A cooper’s hawk that was stranded inside the Walmart on Lower Sacramento Road caused quite a commotion for several days as it perched and flew around in there three story alcove just inside the doors to the grocery section.

Tri County Wildlife Care called Lodi firefighters who used a scissor lift and fishing nets from the sporting goods department to try and capture it. Instead, it managed to chase it out through the shopping cart entrance.

Raptor care experts say the scenario isn’t that unusual. Pat Benik, the raptor leader at Tri County Wildlife Care, says the cooper’s hawk hunts pigeons and follows them with tunnel vision -- meaning they often follow them into buildings. Getting back out proves more difficult. Complete article

Ga. Walmart cashier sold blank gift cards, kept money 12/30/2016

WALTON COUNTY, GA (CBS46) - Loganville Police are telling customers of the store on Atlanta Highway to check their gift card balances.

An employee was just arrested for selling empty gift cards and keeping money for herself.

Anyone who bought a gift card between December 9 and December 25 could be a victim. Complete article

SILVERTON, Ore. — A Silverton woman is claiming holiday themed rawhide bones she purchased from the Walmart in Woodburn nearly killed two of her dogs.

Jess Butcher purchased three colorful, rawhide bones from Walmart as a Christmas present for her dogs: Bella, Harley, and Madison.

"We came home and wrapped them and we thought it would be funny Christmas morning to see them unwrap presents," Butcher said. Complete article

Army veteran steps in to help man shot at Texas Walmart 12/31/2016

An Army vet says his military training kicked in when a man was shot at a Walmart in the Red Bird area of Dallas, Texas on Friday.

Rafael Semmler told FOX 4 that he and his family were at the Walmart when they heard gunfire. After making sure his family got out safely, he returned to the store to see if there was anything he could do to help.

“Everybody started running towards us screaming they’re shooting, they’re shooting,” Semmler recalled. “You don’t really think about it, it’s just at that time it’s kind of like instinct, it’s what you’ve been trained to do.” Complete article